Fact: David Lee should not be the first Knick on the trading block. The dude could be an All-Star. He is young, healthy, ambitious, and would be willing to share the spotlight with LeBron or whoever they sign in 2010. Besides, he might be the best white American in the NBA, he’s playing in NYC, and I dig that. You do too, don’t lie.

Furthermore, I have long believed that Jamal Crawford needs to play for a west coast team with a killer point guard. I saw him when he scored 51 points, and the kid is the perfect running mate for Steve Nash. Can’t you see it? Amare and Shaq clog up the middle, and JC is free for the three. They get a fast break, JC is a finisher. He’s no more of a team killer than Shawn Marion or even Raja Bell. He’d be perfect.

On the flip side, the Knicks get some veteran leadership and some quality production in Grant Hill’s skeleton, and a hard-nosed defender with an attitude in Bell. Let me tell you, Raja Bell has New York written all over him. He’s a little short, sneers, shaves his head, talks a lot of “ish”, and can produce decent numbers. Plus they both come off the books by 2010 and free up some cap room, whereas Crawford would be a holdover for one year with the Potential LeBron before bolting town. Crawford’s absence makes LeBron to NY more of a possibility, as does Lee’s staying in NYC. It’s common sense, but hey, it’s the Knicks. So who knows.

(BTW, I will officially refer to this LeBron-to-NY situation as the “Potential LeBron” from this point forward. It sounds like an Econ 101 term, and the Knicks are playing with his specter for the next two seasons anyways. I like it.)

Cleveland CavaliersCoach: Mike BrownProjected Finish: 57-25Projected StartersC – Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg)PF – Ben Wallace (4.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg)SF – LeBron James (30.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.2 apg)SG – Wally Szczerbiak (11.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.4 apg)PG – Mo Williams (17.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.3 apg)Key ReservesG - Delonte WestF - Anderson VarejaoG - Daniel GibsonAnalysisThis team is better than the team that went to the NBA Finals in 2007. Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry finally addressed the team's deficiencies in the back court with the acquisition of Mo Williams. Do not be surprised to eventually see two changes eventually in the starting lineup. A back court of West and Williams will be the Cavaliers future, with Gibson as sixth man. If all is truly forgiven between Varejao and Cleveland, he will eventually be the starting power forward on this team.

Denver NuggetsCoach: George KarlProjected Finish: 48-34Projected StartersC – Nene (5.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.3 bpg)PF – Kenyon Martin (12.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg)SF – Carmelo Anthony (25.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.4 apg)SG – Allen Iverson (26.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 7.1 apg)PG – Anthony Carter (7.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.5 apg)Key ReservesF/G - Linas Kleiza (11.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg. 1.2 apg)G- J.R. Smith (12.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.7 apg)AnalysisThe Denver Nuggets are a team that may be heading on the downward slope of the NBA mountain. This team has some major issues. When times are going good, you can not find a better teammate than A.I. However when things turn sour, Iverson's attitude usually does also. Nene is recovering from cancer, K-Mart has had an attitude since playing for Bobby Huggins. Carmelo looked like he would end up in another city, at the beginning of the Summer. Team management assured Anthony, and his agent no move would be made this season. Unlike Utah's Jerry Sloan, George Karl's message does get lost after a few seasons. Milwaukee, and Seattle can attest to that.

Oklahoma City ThunderCoach: P.J. CarlesimoProjected Finish: 24-58Projected StartersC – Nick Collison (9.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 0.8bpg)PF – Chris Wilcox (13.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.6 bpg)SF – Jeff Green (10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg)SG – Kevin Durant (20.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.4 apg)PG – Earl Watson (10.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.8 apg)Key ReservesG- Russell Westbrook (Rookie)F/C- Johan Petro (6.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.6 bpg)AnalysisCould somebody please tell David Stern OKC is not in the Northwest? "The Team Formerly Known As The Seattle SuperSonics" have a lot of young talent on their roster. However it will take some time for them to become a cohesive unit. P.J. Carlesimo may not be the right coach to take this group to the next level.

Minnesota TimberwolvesCoach: Randy WittmanProjected Finish: 22-60Projected StartersC – Al Jefferson (21.0 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg)PF – Kevin Love (Rookie)SF – Ryan Gomes (12.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 apg)SG – Mike Miller (16.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg)PG – Randy Foye (13.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.2 apg)Key ReservesG- Sebastain Telfair (9.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.9 apg)G/F-Corey Brewer (5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.4 apg)AnalysisAnoter team where the individual pieces are greater than the combined sum. There is talent on the T-Wolves roster, as they head into year two of the post Garnett era. Love will bust his tail, Miller is a talent, but again this is a long term project not an over night success story. Randy Wittman, is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet, but he is not a head coach. He would have problems leading people out of a phone booth.

New York KnicksCoach: Mike D'AntoniProjected Finish: 27-55Projected StartersC – Zach Randolph (17.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 0.2 bpg)PF – David Lee (10.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 0.4 bpg)SF – Quentin Richardson (8.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg)SG – Chris Duhon (5.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 4.0 apg)PG – Jamal Crawford (20.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.0 apg)Key ReservesG- Nate Robinson (12.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg)G- Stephon Marbury (13.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.7 apg)AnalysisThe good news is the New York Knicks may have already bottomed out. The bad news is it may take eons for this team to reach sea level. The "Zeke Era" is over in Gotham but it is going to take Team President Donnie Walsh, and new head coach Mike D'Antoni, lots of time and lots of effort to make the Knicks respectable again. Starting lineup is still in flux, Marbury could end up being the starter at point. If you look at the Knicks as individual players, there is talent on the roster. But when it is combined they become one of the most dysfunctional families in the Association.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Every year, hope springs eternal for all 32 of the NBA teams who are in the quest for the NBA title. Besides the veterans, you have the rookies to consider as they attempt to form a cohesive unit in that quest. Probably the biggerst question that comes to people's minds these days is this: which rookies will have the biggest impact on their team and in the league? I did my research - which consists of daily basketball tips from various sources, hunhches that I tend to stick with and plenty of Red Bull - and have come up with my Top 10 NBA rookies for this season. And they are...

1- Michael Beasley, forward, Miami Heat. What? No Derrick Rose, you say? The conventional wisdom says Rose should be #1, but consider that Beasley is on a team that has issues getting the ball throuigh the hoop, points-wise. Rebounding wasn't exactly the Heat's strong suit, either. Beasley can score, I think we can all agree on that. He can clean some glass, as well. Once he learns the nuances of NBA defenses, he should be a monster. Unless other things happen, Beasley should be the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year.

2- Derrick Rose, guard, Chicago Bulls. Rose, as we already know, has mad skills at guard. But part of the problem - through no fault of Rose's - is the abundance of guards up in Chicago (Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Thabo Sefolosha, Larry Hughes). Hughes is injured so it's actually 4 for right now. Hard to determine if Rose is a point guard or shooting guard; I expect him to get playing time at both positions. and he will get plaenty of playing time, as one would expect from such a high draft pick; after all, this is the Chicago Bulls, after all.

3- O.J. Mayo, guard, Memphis Grizzlies. Mayo can score, that much we know. but that only takes you only so far if all you do is jumpers, as opposed to driving to the hoop. Based on that alone, he will have his ups and downs, scoring-wise. But one thing is for sure - Mayo definitely has upside. And the Grizzlies have a decent duo in Mayo and Rudy Gay. If Marc Gasol can contribute in a meaningful way, then the Grizzlies will be playoff contenders - and make Michael Heisley look like a genius.

4- Greg Oden, center, Portland Trail Blazers. Last season doesn't count, so Oden gets a pass. Just remember that his preseason has been average and he is coming back from knee surgery. It'll take some time, but once Oden catches up to the speed of the game - mentally and physically - he should be a beast.

5- Kevin Love, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves. If making ridiculous shots from all over the place (go to Youtube for the clips) was a prerequisite for NBA success, Love would be a perennial All-Star. But his talent (not the aforementioned talent) is why Minnesota drafted him. He's a banger and will probably score most of his points from inside the paint. However, he needs some tutoring in being a defensive enforcer as he isn't there just yet. While he's at it, losing a few pounds can't hurt, either.

6- Eric Gordon, guard, Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon is a strong guard for his size, which will serve him in his initial role as probably the first player off the bench. He needs to take "good" shots; but to his credit, he isn't afraid to take it to the rim, either. Depending on how the Clippers do this season will determine whether Gordon will remain the sixth man or will start. Because this is the Clippers, I expect him to start eventually.

7- Russell Westbrook, point guard, Oklahoma City Thunder. By default more than anything else, he will start the majority of games for the Thunder. What's good about him is that he will make his teammates - especially Kevin Durant and Jeff Green - better. He does, however, need to learn to score. He reminds me in a lot of ways of T.J. Ford, but without the scoring. I expect him to come into his own probably in his second season with Oklahoma City, as the growing pains will hit him early and often.

8- Brook Lopez, center, New Jersey Nets. Lopez can score and rebound for sure. And so far this season, he has even played some defense at the NBA level, which begs the question: does Lopez start or come off the bench? The Nets are in rebuilding mode, so I expect Lopez to start around the 45-50 game juncture of the season. The Nets' iffy frontcourt may push the timetable for Lopez starting up, however.

9- Rudy Fernandez, shooting guard, Portland Trail Blazers. Fernandez is what I would call "NBA-ready" already, evidenced by his 15 points, 5 boards, 7 assists, 6 steals but also 6 turnovers. So he obviously has game. With Martell Webster out for awhile, you can expect Rudy to get some decent playing time and may even start on occasion. He will remind people of Manu Ginobili - which isn't a bad thing up in Portland.

10- Marc Gasol, center, Memphis Grizzlies. He has a lot of the attributes that his brother Pau possesses - a high basketball IQ, can pass the ball well for a big man, can score and defend and has the unfair advantage of playing pro ball in Spain. By default, he will start more than most rookies from this draft.

There's my Top 10...what's yours? Let us know what you think and submit your personal list of top 10 NBA rookies.